Reach Community Church Central: 2/177 Beavers Road Northcote VIC 3070
Due to the uncertain times and changing C OVID restri ction, pleas refer to ou e r website fo r up-to-dat informatio e n on our p rogram.
Tel: (03) 9481 6889 Email: info@reachcc.org Website: reachcc.org
West: 2/17 Linmax Court Point Cook VIC 3030
Pastor: Victor Soo Church Administrator: Sharon Oen
CHURCH SERVICE Celebration Service
Sunday
l 10am - 11:30am
Fellowship Lunch
Sunday
l 12pm - 1pm
REACH Kids
Sunday
l 10:30am - 11:30am
PRAYER MEETING
Monthly Ministry & Prayer Intercessory Prayer
1st Friday of the Month l 7.30pm - 9.30pm
Tuesday l 7.30pm - 9.30pm
via Zoom, please contact our office for further information.
BIBLE STUDY Young Adults
University & Youth Groups Family
Wednesday l 7.30pm - 9.30pm Friday l 7.30pm - 9.30pm Monday l 8pm - 10pm
Friday l 7.30pm - 9.30pm
OTHER ACTIVITIES
MOPS (Mothers of Pre-schoolers)
Men’s Breakfast
Every 2nd & 4th Friday l 10am - 12pm
Quarterly
Praise Dance
Thursday l 10am - 12pm
Table Tennis
Thursday l 10am - 12pm
Ukulele for beginners
Thursday l 1pm - 2pm
Welcome to the 25th issue of REACH. As the year is drawing to an end, may we make time for Family Worship, and may Christ be the Lord of Our Family, Live not by Lies, Practice Boldness and may Glory be to God Almighty. Enjoy the Passionfruit Souffle, as you read A Tribute to My Dad while sitting in the great outdoors, for God is a Masterful Gardener. Look forward to February 2022 for the RCC Satellite Opens in Melbourne West. All Glory and thanks be to God. Reach Message
God is a Masterful Gardener Reach Testimony
Christ be the Lord of Our Family Reach Book Review
Family Worship Reach Character
Practise Boldness Reach Reflection
Live not by Lies Reach Poem
A Tribute to My Dad Reach Testimony
Glory be to God Almighty Reach Recipe
Passionfruit Souffle Reach News
RCC Satellite Opens in Melbourne West
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WELCOME
Reach / Summer 2021
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Reach Message
God is a masterful gardener
By David Giang
During this season of working from home, my humble vegetable garden has become a sanctuary in which I spend my time sowing plants from seed and nurturing them to maturity. Not only has it provided joy and satisfaction where I can enjoy home-grown vegetables and fruits in the kitchen, it has also provided spiritual insight. Let me share with you my reflections and some questions for you to ponder upon. Plants grow towards the sun The best advice I would give to someone starting out gardening is to watch the planting space for a year and follow the sun. Plants grow towards the light and fruiting plants need the sun the most. In like manner we need to lean towards the light of the world Jesus Christ, for our source of truth and life’s purpose. The last 18 months have made people evaluate what is important in life and what their true passions are. As Christians, we all have a calling in our lives whose ultimate purpose is to bring God glory. If you are alive today, it is because of God’s grace and power. There is a reason and purpose for your life. ...but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. (Philippians 1:20b) In the story of Paul in the New Testament, his life - from public ministry to being shipwrecked to being imprisoned - always sought to glorify Christ. What a magnificent example. How are you magnifying Christ in your life so others can see?
A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good.. (Luke 6:45a) How are you creating space for Him in your heart? Plants need water to grow One of the most enjoyable times of the day for me is watering the garden in the morning. I also get to check on the progress of fruit and vegetables and pick anything ready for harvest. Nothing beats freshly picked snow peas in the spring or ripe tomatoes in the summer. I have learnt that plants need water so they can take up nutrients from the soil to the roots and this helps them to grow strong. One of the most wonderful promises in the bible is that His grace is sufficient for us, and this translates as a grace that not only enables but sustains too. Our lives have undergone a significant amount of change in such a short time frame, and we have had to pivot in many ways, from digitalising our learning to not being able to visit family when we want to. It is not easy and some days we feel like we do not have the will to carry on. This is where we need to anchor in the promise that His grace will transform all of life’s moments to work together for good, and we will grow closer to the likeness of Christ.
Reach / Summer 2021
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Reach Message
Plants thrive in good soil I always like to have good quality potting mix to start with. For plants to thrive, it needs a healthy soil that provides the perfect environment for sustained growth. Just the same way for us to grow in the measure of grace God has gifted us, our hearts need to be prepared to receive His word with joy and gladness. Our modern lives have become a busy schedule of things to do, notifications and messages to reply, and it can very quickly harden our heart to believe there is no time left. Find a time in the day and create an inviting space where it is free from the narrative of this world and open to the holy spirit. Treasure this time and make it a habit to commune with God daily for it will grow your heart to be dependent on Him alone. And it will surely lead to goodness.
Reach / Summer 2021
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Reach Message And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. (2 Corinthians 9:8) Life is a very long race with twists and turns along the way and His grace will go above every measure in the things we need to sustain us for journey. What are the areas of your life where you want to see God’s grace overflow and help you grow more? In closing, I see our lives as a garden that God wants to make beautiful. In it He wants plant herbs that exudes a scent when the wind blows upon it and have different types of trees to enjoy of its fruit. When life seems unfair, its purpose is to produce virtues such as patience and long suffering to even joy because God desires it. Also, there will be moments where we can celebrate in the blessings of life too. In essence He wants to reside in it, and this is called relationship. Are you going to invite Him in your life today? Awake, O north wind, And come, O south! Blow upon my garden, That its spices may flow out. Let my beloved come to his garden And eat its pleasant fruits. (Song of Solomon 4:16)
C hrist be the L ord of our family,
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Reach Testimony
By Lu Mee Ngu
I would like to testify God’s goodness in looking after my family over the last 20 plus years. My husband and I have been married for 23 years and we have four lovely children. These 20 years was not a smooth journey for me but by God’s grace and His mercy, He sustained me! All my four children had different health issues when they were young. My eldest son suffered from severe eczema since infancy. I frequently found blood on his pillowcase, from his skin wound. We tried many different types of medicines and creams, even visited The Royal Children’s Hospital endless times. We could only pray that his eczema would miraculously go away. Praise the Lord, God did heal his skin after a few years and he now has beautiful skin.
Reach / Summer 2021
and for the generation to come
Reach / Summer 2021
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Reach Testimony My second son was prone to urinary tract infection and was hospitalised a few times before he turned one. The symptoms included high fever, irritability and poor feeding. His first infection was back in 2002, when our family attended the Church Family Retreat at Phillip Island. He was hospitalised the first night of the retreat. It was a tough time for our family but we hung in there, knowing God is always there for us! My prayer was that my son would not have any abnormality in the structure of his kidneys or urinary tract. After a year of monitoring and kidney ultrasound, he was cleared from any complication and is now as healthy as other boys. Our God is a God of miracles! My daughter had “bow legs” when she was young. Even though it did not bother her the first 2 years of her life, it worried me that there might be more sinister cause if it did not resolve by the age of 3. I prayed unceasingly that God would straighten her legs and I trusted Him for His healing to be upon my daughter. My daughter is 17 now with a pair of straight and beautiful legs, I know God has healed her! My youngest son was diagnosed with inguinal hernia at 2 weeks old. The hernia appeared as a smooth lump in the groin or scrotum when he cried or strained. We were told that he would need surgery before turning 6 months old. As a parent, it was not something I wanted to hear. I felt angry at times and asked God why it happened to him. I started searching the internet to find ways to avoid any surgery to my baby. I asked people around me and sought advice from doctors. According to the maternal and child health nurse, 99% of babies with this condition needed surgery by 6 months old. I knew I could only look up to God for help. I asked Him for wisdom and guidance. I needed Him to strengthen me and sustain me especially with three other toddlers to look after. I needed peace in my heart. On many occasions, I learnt that prayer is the only way. It was my desperate cry to God for His healing and deliverance. Continuously, I laid my hand on the lump and prayed. I prayed whenever I changed his nappy, whenever I fed him, when he was awake and asleep. I prayed for God’s miracle and His deliverance on my son. This lasted for many months. One morning (the day before the scheduled surgery), when I changed his nappy, the lump had disappeared! I was in shock and booked to see a doctor that afternoon. My son had an ultrasound. The doctor could not believe that the ultrasound was clear, the hernia had gone. He told me that this is a miracle and it must be God! Deep down in my heart I knew God was at work and He is love! Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust”. (Psalm 91: 1-2, NIV)
After many miracles, God has strengthened my faith. I learnt to trust Him in my marriage, my husband’s career, my job, my financial situation, my health, my parenting, my children and their future. It is my heart’s desire that my family will continue to love God and serve Him from generation to generation. Christ is the Lord of our family. Even though my children are now 15, 17, 19 and 21 years old, I never stop telling them God’s goodness in our life. The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works. (Psalm 145:9) For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. (Psalm 100:5, NIV) Fast forward to now, the recent pandemic and lockdown has been a good time for me to get closer and spend more time with my family members. We spent more time to learn about God than any other times of our life. I also thank God for the opportunity for us to have our house extension (which we planned many years ago). I thank God the extension was completed before the long lockdown in July, and our family is able to enjoy the bigger space. For me, my family is everything. It is a place where we learn about service, sacrifice, acceptance, and love. I am blessed to have God in my life. Even though life is full of trials and challenges, I learnt to rest in Him. It is my prayer that God will bless my family and children, to give us hearts that follow after Him. May God strengthen my family as a unit and give my children the courage to stand up to what is right and live their lives to bring glory to God.
Reach / Summer 2021
The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. (Psalm 18:2)
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Reach Testimony
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Reach Book Review
Fam ily Worship
Reach / Summer 2021
Author : Donald S. Whitney Reviewed by Danny Tanyi
God deserves to be worshiped daily in our homes by our families. Family worship by Don Whitney reminds and convicts us of this truth. The book lays a biblical and historical foundation for the practice of family worship. As Joshua in the bible declared, “as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15). Don Whitney states that parents generally rely upon their church to do all the biblical training their children would receive. He adds
that having children in a Christ-exalting, bible-teaching local church is important to Christian parenting, but emphasises it is not enough and encourages parents to carry out their responsibility of bringing up the children “in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” He also encourages the readers to strive for faithfulness in family worship, reminding us the impact is usually cumulative: “Oak trees aren’t grown by means of an occasional spectacular day of weather, but by long-term, consistent exposure to the elements that encourage their growth. The same patient persistence is true for growing ‘oaks of righteousness’ (Isaiah 61:3).” The book provides the basic elements to family worship: read, pray, sing. Read the Bible, pray together as a family, and sing together. Other elements such as catechism, and memorising scripture can be added but these three elements are the basic building blocks. Don Whitney also highlights various situations which could prompt questions about the feasibility of family worship such as “What if there is no father at home?” “What if the children are very young?” “What if the father is not a Christian?” “What if there is a wide range of ages among the children?” “What if there are no children at home?” He provides valuable insights for overcoming these.
This book awakened me to the privilege and responsibility of Family Worship. What a privilege to commune with the living God as a family daily. What better way to speak the word of God into our families’ lives every day and provide a regular time for our children to learn the things of God? In conclusion, he encourages the readers to start family worship today. “Let every husband, let every father, let every Christian challenged by these words commit himself to this: ‘As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD’”.
Practise BOLDNESS
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Reach Character
We live in an age where conformity is becoming more important than truth. Fake news are We live in an age where conformity is becoming more important than truth. Fake news are rampant, people are deceived, and no one wants to rock the boat. As people of faith, we rampant, people are deceived, and no one wants to rock the boat. As people of faith, we are asked to stand for the truth and live out the truth in our life, with great courage. are asked to stand for the truth and live out the truth in our life, with great courage. The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? – Psalms 118:6 The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? – Psalms 118:6 Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. (1 Be willing to stand alone*. Corinthians 16:13)
Observe clear conscience in our life.
Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, “My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.” (Acts 23:1, NIV)
Live out the biblical moral standard.
Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. (Joshua 1:7)
Determine not to lower our
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” (Hebrews 13:5‐ 6, NIV)
Not be afraid to speak the truth*.
He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ – with all boldness and without hindrance! (Acts 28:31, NIV)
standard to conform to the worldly standard.
Since we have such a [glorious] hope and confident expectation, we speak with great courage. (2 Corinthians 3:12, AMP)
Esteem truth more than anything.
For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self‐discipline. So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. (2 Timothy 1:7‐8, NIV)
Support others when they are right*.
No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8, NLT)
Speak with humility*.
When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. (Ephesians 3:14‐17, NLT)
*Taken from IACC publication Achieving True Success
*Taken from IACC publication Achieving True Success
Reach / Summer 2021
Practise boldness
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Reach Reflection
LiveNot by lies
By Lee Chyi Lam
Have you ever read a book that evokes your emotions, incites your intellect and cuts your conscience? Live Not By Lies: A Manual For Christian Dissidents, by Rod Dreher, is such a book. A book that I needed to read slowly, to re-read the same paragraph, to stop to digest and reflect on the concept introduced. Being overwhelmed by the book is an understatement. This article is more than a book review, I want to reflect on its content. The book started by reminding us of the great event in 1989, when the Berlin Wall fell. People celebrated, believing that it was the end of totalitarianism, optimistic that democracy and capitalism would continue to flourish. Fast forward to 2015, a Czechoslovak lady in her nineties, living in America, told her physician son that living in America reminded her of her life in Czechoslovakia during the communist-era. What prompted this analogy? The lady heard of a news that Evangelical Christian owners of a pizzeria in a small town in Indiana had to close their shop after being threatened to have their shop burnt down. What triggered the threat? They told a reporter that they would not cater for a same-sex wedding. Is America (or the West) drifting towards totalitarianism? As a society, are we no longer tolerant to dissenting opinion? Is the intolerance being disguised “in the language of liberating victims from oppression”? Dreher puts it plainly, “What is happening here? A progressive – and profoundly anti-Christian militancy – is steadily overtaking society.” Dreher laments that progress “without a biblical understanding of human fallibility and without the God of the Bible as the author of history and the judge of the earth” is dark. Dreher coins the old totalitarianism during the communist-era as hard totalitarianism and the current tendency in the so-called progressive society as soft totalitarianism. Communism is atheistic and sees religion as its enemy, to be suppressed. The progressive society is ‘diverse’ but sees religion as dissentious, to be silenced.
Reading this book during the COVID-19 lockdown, it is undeniable that the pandemic has hastened the infiltration of totalitarianism in our lives, in the name of curbing the pandemic. The second part of the book emphasises on how to resist the soft totalitarianism’s lies. Dreher suggests a few important strategies: 1. Value nothing more than truth Dreher urges us to value nothing more than truth, to have the courage to live a life apart from the crowd and being willing to endure the consequences. This does not mean making bold and brashy decision, but to be prudent. 2. Cultivate cultural memory The Western culture, in the name of progression, has attempted to erase its religious root, and the importance of Christianity in the formation of Western civilisation. Dreher explains that “the more totalitarian a regime’s nature, the more it will try to force people to forget their cultural memories”, because “memory of the past conditions how we experience the present – that is, how we grasp its meaning, how we are to understand it, and what we are supposed to do in it.” 3. Families are resistance cells The progressive society emphasises on consumerism and individualism, and undermines the function of the family. Children are brought up to fulfill their own desires. Even Christian parents adopt this secular value, by “mindlessly surrendering their children’s minds to smartphones and the internet.” Dreher interviewed parents who raised up children with strong faith during the communist era in Czech, and their advice for Christian parents: 1) model moral courage, 2) fill their (children’s) moral imaginations with the good, 3) don’t be afraid to be weird in society’s eyes, 4) prepare to make great sacrifices for the greater good, 5) teach they are part of a wider movement, 6) practice hospitality and serve others. Being parents who want to bring up their children with strong faith in this era requires a shift of mindset, and purposefully countercultural in the values they instil in their children.
Reach / Summer 2021
In the first part of the book, Dreher expounds on the sources of this 20th century totalitarianism, and “the conditions that tilled the ground” for soft totalitarianism.
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Reach Reflection
Reach / Summer 2021
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Reach Reflection 4. Religion as the bedrock of resistance In order to resist lies, the Christians need to align their belief and life with the biblical teaching, and not to identify with the secular values. Dreher sums it well, “He (God) calls us to share in his Passion, for our sake and the sake of the world. He promises us nothing but the cross. Not happiness but the joy of blessedness. Not material wealth but richness of spirit. Not sexual freedom as erotic abandon but sexual freedom within loving, mutually sacrificial commitment. Not power but love; not self-sovereignty but obedience.” 5. Standing in solidarity In addition, Dreher calls the Christians – the solid rocks – to join together, “to form a wall of solidarity that is very hard for the enemy to breach… only in solidarity with others can we find the spiritual and communal strength to resist. The longer we remain isolated in a period of liberty, the harder it will be to find one another in a time of persecution.” 6. The gift of suffering Christians have succumbed to the unbiblical view that all sufferings and pains are to be avoided at all cost. The purpose of life is to pursue pleasure, prosperity and personal success. Dreher explains that we are not to look for suffering, but no one can avoid suffering entirely. “When we embrace suffering… and let it change us… it could serve as a refiner’s fire… purifying our love of God and tortured humanity.” To perceive suffering as a gift certainly requires a strong faith in the God of the Bible. This book is definitely evoking, inciting and cutting. Reading it in the climate of the current pandemic is particularly alarming. We are in fact heading towards totalitarianism. The minority (and now the government) dictates how the majority should behave. More than ever before, we need to dig deep into the Bible, and stand firm in our faith. Ephesians 4:13-15 (NLT) This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.
A Tribute to my Dad
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Reach Poem
Dear dad, You’re like a great ship On an important mission To take your crew Out of the harbour and through the big waves And by faith head into new horizons. To claim what our Heavenly Father has laid out for you To stand tall in the storms To help those who fall And orientate those who are lost. Everyday as you give You gain strength from above So you never give up. Dear dad, You’re a great ship You’re a brave captain!
Reach / Summer 2021
By Matthew Soo
Reach / Summer 2021
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Reach Testimony
I would like to testify of God’s goodness, mercy and faithfulness in my life in the last two years. I moved to Australia early March 2020 to join my husband. I arrived two days before Australia borders were shut due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Arriving at a time like this, after we had waited for over a year for my visa to be granted, was a miracle. Shortly after my arrival in Australia, I fell pregnant. This was at the start of the COVID-19 lockdown when there were many restrictions at the hospitals and public areas. This made it difficult to book appointments with General Practitioner and specialist. In addition, my husband was not allowed to accompany me to my hospital appointments. The first and second trimester went well without any complications. I did not even have unpleasant feelings such as vomiting, fever, or extreme fatigue. At around 38th week of my pregnancy, my obstetrician was concerned because the baby was not ‘engaged’ - the baby’s head had not moved down to the pelvis, the right position for birth. It was not an emergency as the ‘engagement’ can still happen later or during labour. Nevertheless, we continued to pray and commit the situation to God. At around 40th week of my pregnancy, the due date, COVID-19 restrictions were eased, and my husband was allowed to come for appointments with me. The baby was still not ‘engaged’ and the labour had not begun. My obstetrician discussed the possibility of induction of labour or caesarean section.
By Lesly Tanyi
At the 41st week, there was still no sign of labour and it was becoming risky for the baby’s health. The obstetrician advised for caesarean section as soon as possible. We finally agreed to wait for another week and he recommended foetal monitoring every day to ensure that the baby was in good health. Foetal monitoring measures the heart rate and rhythm of the baby to ensure he is doing well. On the 25th of December, we went for our second foetal monitoring appointment which seemed to take longer than normal. After about an hour, the midwife informed us that the obstetrician was coming to urgently deliver the baby as the baby’s heart rate was below the normal threshold. This was a shocking and scary news for us. Everything went so fast and within 30 minutes I was in the theatre. I thank God that my husband was by my side, encouraging me during the caesarean section. We kept praying and praising God throughout the surgery. In less than an hour, our baby boy “Emmanuel” was born, in excellent health. Even though I did not end up having a normal delivery, I am thankful that Emmanuel was born in a good condition and I recovered well from the surgery. I also want to thank the Reach Community Church family for always praying and supporting us in every way. Emmanuel will be turning one year old on Christmas day, 25th December 2021. It has been a very rewarding year for my family, full of blessings, joy, good health, plays, smiles, wet nappies and a few sleepless nights. God’s way is higher than our way. Glory be to the Lord God Almighty.
Reach / Summer 2021
Induction of labour is to stimulate uterine contraction before labour begins on its own to achieve vaginal birth; while caesarean section is a surgical procedure to deliver the baby through a cut made in the mother’s abdominal wall and uterus. We kept praying and trusting God for normal delivery.
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Reach Testimony
passionfruitsoufflè
By In Chyi Lee
Reach / Summer 2021
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Reach Recipe
Souffle originated in France. It is a light, egg-based dish, popular as a dessert; but using different ingredients, it can also be a savoury main dish. It takes skill to master, and is a dish to impress. Servings: 5
Ingredients: Soft Custard 1/8 cup icing sugar 1/8 cup corn flour 1/8 cup custard powder
1 egg yolk 1 cup milk 1 passionfruit pulp
Meringue 250g egg white 100g sugar Passionfruit pulp and ice cream, to serve. Method: 1. Prepare 5 ramekins – apply softened butter to the ramekins, then sprinkle with icing sugar. 2. Pre heat oven to 180°C. 3. To make soft custard: mix and cook all ingredients over medium heat until it thickens (soft thickened), stir in passionfruit pulp while the mixture is still hot. Cool to room temperature. 4. To make meringue: beat egg white and sugar together until stiff. 5. Fold soft custard into meringue. Stir until well combined but do not over-mix. Pour the mixture into prepared ramekins, scrap flat the top of the mixture, wipe any mixture off the top side of the ramekins (this step is important so the soufflé will rise). 6. Put the ramekins in a tray and bake for 7 mins; rotate the tray and bake for another 7 mins. Continue baking until the soufflé turns golden brown (normally no more than 16 mins in total). Take out, sprinkle with icing sugar and serve with passionfruit pulp and ice cream.
Glory be to God! we are expanding our outreach to the community by planting a satellite church in Melbourne West starting from the first Sunday in February 2022. This is special because one of our visions is to extend into communities. A few years ago, Pastor Victor Soo envisioned a church in Melbourne West which now has the fastest-growing population in Victoria. The harvest is plentiful! The new satellite church is located at No 2/17 Linmax Court, Point Cook and it is led by Ajibade Aibinu and Kemi Aibinu, who sees this as an opportunity for ministry focusing on loving God by loving people and touching people’s lives with the love of Christ. The satellite has three primary aspects: first is to create a community of believers that exalt Jesus; second is to equip and build them so that they can work alongside the work God is already doing in our city, and third is to enable them to extend further into the Melbourne West community by being salt and light and serving their neighbors. It is a fun, friendly, and faith-filled fellowship of believers. The timing and the venue of this satellite are divine and indeed a miracle. Over 5 years ago, Pastor Victor spoke with one of his friends, the owner of the premises, about the possibility of us using his building for a church. In 2021, the owner heard God instructing him about the venue. He was convinced that the building will house a new church. The plan for this new church emerged around the same time that the owner of the venue heard from God. As result, it was not a surprise when he was informed about the plan for a satellite church in the west. He believes it is the divine will of God and willingly made the building available. God is always ahead of us in everything. God is timely and faithful, and God is perfect in all His ways. The venue is a 12-minute walk from Williams Landing train station, which should facilitate easy access by households from the surrounding suburbs. It is exciting to see what God is doing. As a people, we are created to be a light to the World, to reflect God’s Glory and reveal His nature and attribute in every place. Jesus is the only answer for the world today and everyone needs redemption in Him through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, by the riches of God’s grace (Ephesians 1:7). With the Reach Community Church West Satellite, we are extending God’s kingdom into our community.
Reach / Summer 2021
Reach Community Church Satellite Opens in Melbourne West
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Reach News